svelte

/svelt/ (bre, ipa) · [svˈɛlt] /svelt/ (ame, ipa) · [svˈɛlt] /ˈsvelt How to pronounce svelte (audio) ˈsfelt/ (ame, mw)

svelte — adjective

  • sveltepositive
  • sveltercomparative
  • sveltestsuperlative

1. thin in an attractive way, with a smooth and flowing shape — used especially to

1.形容詞B2
釋義

thin in an attractive way, with a smooth and flowing shape — used especially to describe a person's body, a piece of clothing, or the elegant design of an object.

例句

Eri wore a svelte black dress to the ceremony and turned heads.

used of a person's body or clothing

The car's svelte design attracted buyers looking for something modern and refined.

used of an object's design

同義詞
  • slender

    more neutral; describes thinness without necessarily implying elegance

  • slim

    common and neutral; less formal than svelte

  • lithe

    emphasises flexibility and ease of movement

  • willowy

    suggests tall, thin, and graceful; usually used for women

反義詞
  • stocky

    broad and solidly built; the opposite of slender

  • bulky

    taking up a lot of space; the opposite of sleek and slim

用法筆記

Common in fashion writing, design reviews, and descriptions of people's appearance. Unlike 'thin' or 'slim', svelte always carries a positive suggestion of elegance and smooth lines.

常見錯誤

❌She is very svelte' (when only meaning 'thin').
✅She has a svelte figure.
💡Svelte implies graceful attractiveness, not just lack of weight.

2. having a polished, refined, and confident way of behaving with other people — us

2.形容詞C1
釋義

having a polished, refined, and confident way of behaving with other people — used especially of someone who is at ease in formal or high-status social situations.

例句

The svelte ambassador charmed the guests at the reception with her witty remarks.

used of a person's polished social manner

Adina's svelte confidence made her a natural leader during boardroom discussions.

同義詞
  • suave

    smoothly charming, sometimes with a hint of worldliness; more common than svelte in this sense

  • urbane

    polite and sophisticated in a way that is associated with city life and wide experience

  • polished

    more general; refined through education, training, or social experience

反義詞
  • awkward

    lacking grace or ease in social situations

  • crude

    lacking refinement, subtlety, or social polish

用法筆記

This sense is rare in everyday conversation. It overlaps with 'suave' but carries an extra layer of physical grace. Found mostly in literary or journalistic descriptions of public figures.